Lee Je-hoon Reflects on the IMF Era Through 'Soju War'

Actor Lee Je-hoon reminisces about experiencing the IMF crisis, the backdrop of his new film 'Soju War'.

On November 2nd, at a café in Sogyeok-dong, Seoul, actor Lee Je-hoon discussed his role in the movie 'Soju War'.

'Soju War' is set during the 1997 IMF financial crisis and tells the story of Pyoh Jong-rok (played by Yoo Hae-jin), a finance director for whom soju is life, and Choi In-beom (played by Lee Je-hoon), an employee of a global investment firm focused solely on results. The film depicts their battle over the fate of Korea's national soju. Lee Je-hoon plays Choi In-beom, who is involved in the M&A of the Gukbo Group by the global investment firm Solqueen.

Lee Je-hoon shared, "The fact that the story is inspired by the real event of the 1997 IMF crisis made it an intriguing subject. It uses soju as a medium to showcase the conflict and friendship between two people with different values, which I believe is a story that resonates with people today."

Reflecting on his memories of the IMF era, Lee said, "I also went through the IMF crisis. From my middle school years until around 2003, when I was in my early 20s, my family faced financial difficulties. My father, who was self-employed, struggled and worked as a day laborer, which I witnessed firsthand. This story doesn't feel distant to me; it hits close to home." He continued, "Looking back over 20 years, I wonder what has changed. Despite significant advancements and broader perspectives, moral hazards still prevail. I believe many will relate to the film. I hope it remains a work that can be revisited for both its social and entertaining aspects, and I think it has the potential to do so."

Reported by Kim Ji-won, TenAsia bella@tenasia.co.kr